Wendy and Jeremiah’s stories intertwined at the peak of tragedy. Both were living in Rockport, Texas, when Hurricane Harvey blasted through the beachfront community of 10,000 in August 2017. The losses sustained in the community, including the devastation of affordable housing, rendered many in the struggling community permanently displaced.
Wendy recounts the days and months in Rockport following the hurricane as dire: closed schools, no water, no power, no post office and mandatory curfews that lasted for four months.
“I lost my daughter,” she said. “She went to live with my sister. I couldn’t say ‘hurricane’ without crying, and the thought of rebuilding made me curl up in a ball. The doctors left, I had no vehicle, there were no counselors, no resources.”
But, she said, “there were lots of drugs and alcohol. Those were cheap and plentiful and offered an easy way out.”
However, she also met Jeremiah because of the hurricane, and the two became close and are now engaged to be married.
After about a year, Wendy went to a detox facility and then to San Antonio, but it wasn’t far enough away. She has a brother, daughter and a cousin in Oregon, and she wanted a new start. She landed in Portland, and soon after, she asked Jeremiah to join her.
“I’ve never really lived out of Texas,” he said. “But Wendy called, and I moved. I didn’t think we’d stay.”
He has lived in Portland since early October. The two have struggled on and off with their old habits of addiction, but Wendy was proud to show off her 60-day sobriety chip and explain that Jeremiah had also been sober for 60 days. They also both recently completed their flagger certification, and they hope that will bring some near-term employment.
They credit their strong relationship and bond for their enduring resilience. And they shared that they had just set a date for their wedding: July 4, 2020.
Street Roots provides them with purpose and support, and they don’t need to panhandle.
The two are the perfect pair; Wendy’s infectious optimism is counterbalanced by Jeremiah’s quiet pragmatism.
“Wendy reaches for the stars,” Jeremiah said, “but she doesn’t want the world. Wendy is very gifted about making connections, she’s very generous.”
And they share a unique good luck charm: giving to the Street Roots gods. Wendy explained: “Every time I see a vendor, I buy a paper. I give $1 – and something good happens. I get food for free, or find money.”
Jeremiah added, “I was skeptical, but it works.”
New to Street Roots, Wendy and Jeremiah are still establishing a sales location.
The two feel welcomed into their new community of Portland.
“What I like about Portland is the beautiful architecture, the diversity of the city; there’s so much here,” Jeremiah said. “I love those bridges and the way that Portland tries to help itself.”
Wendy chimed in: “I love the silence at night. That’s what I love.”